.
To:
TheHonourableMinisterofAgricultureMr.JohnSteenhuisen
AgriculturePlace,20SteveBikoStreet,Arcadia,Pretoria,0002
1stFloor,Room115,120PleinSteer,CapeTown,8000
Email:MinisterDoA@nda.agri.za
ByEmailandCourier
And:
TheRegistrarAct36of1947 DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries
Attention: Mr.MJMudzunga
Email:MalutaM@dalrrd.gov.za
5December2024
TheAfricanCentreforBiodiversity(ACB)addressesthisletterinitsname ,aswellasonbehalfofa coalitionoffarmworkersandcivilsocietyorganisationsincludingtheWomenonFarmsProject (WFP),theCommercialStevedoring,AgriculturalandAlliedWorkersUnion(CSAAWU), Groundwork ,FriendsoftheEarthSA,Khanyisa/KougaWorkersForumTrustforCommunity OutreachandEducation(TCOE);ProfessorLeslieLondon,ProfessorAndreaRother,andDrCindy Stephens.
AnAnnextothislettercontainsanoverviewoftheprofilesoftheorganisationsandindividuals supportingthisletterofdemand.
Concerning the organophosphate Terbufos
WecallupontheMinisterofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheriestoexercisehispowersintermsofsection 7bisoftheFertilizers;FarmFeedsAgriculturalRemediesandStockRemediesAct(Act36of1947)1and forthwithtobantheacquisition,disposal,sale,oruseinanyformoftheregisteredagriculturalremedy knownasTerbufos,anorganophosphatepesticideusedinagriculture.SuchbanningofTerbufosisin linewiththeMinister’sConstitutionaldutytoexercisepowersinamannerthatpromotestherights containedintheConstitution,includingtherighttolifeandtherighttoanenvironmentthatisnot harmfultotheirhealthorwell-being,aswellasadutytofosterconductthatprotectsthoserights.
17bis
Prohibitiononacquisition,disposal,saleoruseofcertainfertilizers,farmfeeds,agriculturalremediesandstockremedies (1)TheMinistermaybynoticeintheGazette(a)prohibittheacquisition,disposal,saleoruseoffertilizers,farmfeeds,agriculturalremediesorstockremedies;or (b)prohibitsuchacquisition,disposal,saleoruse,exceptinaccordancewithsuchconditionsasmaybespecifiedinthenotice orexceptundertheauthorityofandinaccordancewithsuchconditionsasmaybespecifiedinapermitissuedbytheRegistrar, andmayinlikemannerrepealoramendanysuchnotice.
Furthermore,sincetheburdenofTerbufospoisoningshastragicallyfallenonchildreninpastyears,we remindtheMinisteroftheConstitutionalimperativethatthechild’sbestinterestsareofparamount importanceineverymatterconcerningthechild
WealsoremindtheMinisterthatallgovernmentMinistriesareboundbytheNationalEnvironmental ManagementAct(NEMAAct107of1997),whichexpectsthatactionsofallorgansofstatethatmay significantlyaffecttheenvironmentshouldbecompliantwitharangeofprinciples,includingavoidance ofpollution,environmentaljustice,precaution,openandtransparentdecision-making,cradle-to-grave responsibilitiesandtheprioritisationofthephysical,psychological,developmental,cultural,andsocial interestsofpeopleattheforefrontofdecision-making.
Concerning highly hazardous pesticides
Currently registered highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) require urgent attention concerning their expeditiousbanning,includingtheirimportandexport,withparticularattentionbeingpaidtothose HHPsthathavealreadybeenbannedintheEuropeanUnion(EU)
TheseHHPsincludepesticidesknowntobecarcinogenicorfatalinacutepoisonings.TheEUhasbanned 57ofthe192HHPsregisteredinSouthAfrica(SA)duetotheirhealthandenvironmentalrisks,rights violations,andharmtothehealthoffarmworkersandtheirfamilies.
The reduction of risks posed by HHPs became a priority issue within international chemicals managementpoliciesin2006whentheFoodandAgricultureOrganisation(FAO)Councilrequested specificattentionforHHPriskreduction,includingconsiderationofprogressivebans.Workcontinued inthisvein,unpackingtherisksandchallengesofphasingoutHHPs,andin2016theFAO/WorldHealth Organisation(WHO)issuedspecificguidelinestohelpcountriesaddressHHPs,includingcriteriafor identification,stepsofriskreduction,andelementsofanactionplanforreducetherisksposedby HHPs.2
Meanwhile,inSouthAfrica,thePesticideManagementPolicyof2010tookuptheissueofreducing pesticidesandbanningorphasingoutthosethatareparticularlydangerous:
“ThePolicytakesintocognisancethefactthatspecialattentionshouldbegiventopesticidesthatpose anunmanageablerisk,withanunderstandingthatsuchpesticidesshouldbeconsideredforphase-out, sever restriction andbans. Those that willbeconsidered includethose with Endocrine Disrupting Properties (EDP), Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), carcinogenic and immunologic potential, formulationsclassifiedbyWHOasExtremelyHazardous(class1a)andHighlyHazardous(class1b),as wellaspesticidesassociatedwithfrequentandseverepoisoningincidents.“3
Furthermore, the policy pointed to the NEMA Act of 1998 and its provisions for cooperative environmentalgovernanceby establishingprinciplesfor decision-making on matters affecting the environment.Sincethe2010policywaspublished,only12chemicalshavebeenbannedorrestricted.4 Additionally,theRegistrarpromisedinApril2022,tophaseout116HHPsbyJune2024.Ultimately,only 28wereidentifiedforphasingoutandtheregistrarpublishedaderogationsprocedureforcompanies toapplytocontinueusingthese28underspecialcircumstances.
2https://www.fao.org/pesticide-registration-toolkit/special-topics/highly-hazardous-pesticides-hhp/introduction/en/ 3NOTICE1120OF2010No.3389937DEPARTMENTOFAGRICULTURE,FORESTRYANDFISHERIESFERTILIZERS, FARMFEEDS,AGRICULTURALREMEDIESANDSTOCKREMEDIESACT,1947(ACTNO.36F1947)ADOPTIONOF PESTICIDEMANAGEMENTPOLICYFORSOUTHAFRICA,atpage4see https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/338991120.pdf
4http://www.thedtic.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Agric-Remedies.pdf
Movingatthisglacialspacemeansthat,onaverage,SouthAfricahastakenregulatoryactiononless thanonepesticideayearsincethepolicywaspublished.Giventheabundanceofevidenceregarding HHPsandSouthAfrica’scommitmenttocomplyingwithshiftsinglobalenvironmentalgovernance,we donotbelievethistobesufficientlycompliantwithitspolicydirection.
WeareoftheviewthattheMinistermustissueanimmediatebanonTerbufosandabanonotherHHPs withafixed sixmonthsforimplementation.TheMinistermustensurethattherearenodelaysor loopholescreatedinanynewregulatoryframeworkthatallowtheongoinguseofchemicalsinviolation ofourConstitutionalrightstoanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultohealth.
WecallontheMinistertoindicatehiswillingnesstoundertakethestepssetoutinthisletter,within21 daysofthedateofreceipt,failingwhichwereserveourrightstobringlegalactiontocompelthe Ministertotakethesesteps.FailuretodosowillresultinaConstitutionalviolationoftherighttolife andanenvironmentnotharmfultohealthwithparticularlydevastatingconsequencesforchildren.We trustthatitwillnotbenecessaryforustoapproachthecourtstocompeltheMinistertohonour,rather thancontinuetoviolate,hisConstitutionalobligations.
Detailed submissions
1. Terbufos
TerbufosisclassifiedbytheWHOasanextremelyhazardousclass1aorganophosphatepesticideand cholinesteraseinhibitor.5Terbufoshasneurotoxiceffectsandisparticularlydangeroustochildrenand adolescents.Itmaybefatalifingested,inhaled,orhadcontactwiththeskin.Ithasbeenbannedforuse intheEUsince2009,althoughsomecountriesintheEUapplydoublestandardsandcontinuetoallow theproductionandexportofTerbufos,especiallytodevelopingcountries.Terbufoshasbeenbanned intheSouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunity(SADC)byAngola,Comoros,theDemocraticRepublic oftheCongo,Madagascar,Malawi,Mauritius,Mozambique,Namibia,theSeychelles,Tanzania,and Zambia.Botswana’sbancameintoeffecton1stDecember. ZimbabwenolongerimportsTerbufos.
TerbufosisrecognisedandlistedbytheRotterdamConventionasahazardouschemicalrequiringprior informedconsentfrompartiestotheConvention.Thismeansthatasof21stJuly2024SA,asaPartyto theConvention,hadtoconsenttoimportingTerbufos.
Terbufos has been a “restricted pesticide” in SA since the end of 2023. A restricted pesticide is consideredtohaveahigherpotentialtoharmpublichealth,theenvironment,wildlife,orothercrops comparedtootherpesticides.
Notably,TerbufoswasamongthechemicalsinthelargestockpileattheUPLwarehouseinCornubia thatwassetalightinJuly2021.
2. Terbufos,HHPs,andstreetpoisoning
Terbufosiswidelyavailableandcanbeboughtinspazashopsandthroughstreettraders–asasocalled‘streetpesticide’fordomesticuseintownshipsandinformalsettlementstocontrolrats.6Worse still,twodaysbeforetheSouthAfricangovernmentdeclaredanationaldisaster,environmentalhealth researchersattheUniversityofCapeTowndidaquickreviewofthelabelsonlineforTerbufosproducts
5 https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/332193/9789240005662-eng.pdf–page21
6AddressbyPresidentCyrilRamaphosaondeathsofchildrenduetofood-borneillnesses,UnionBuildings,Tshwane,15th November2024
beingsoldinSA,andnoneindicatedevidenceof“restrictedusepesticide”asrequiredbylaw.Inany event,wecontendthatnoamountoftraceabilityandlabellingwillmakeasubstancedesignedtokill safe,andthereisnoidealreal-lifesituationwherethesetoxinscanbedeployedsafely.
TerbufoshasbeenidentifiedbytheMinisterofHealthtohavebeenthecauseoftherecentdeathsof sixchildreninNaledi,Soweto.Indeed,governmenttoxicologyresultsfoundthattheNaledichildren diedfromingestingTerbufos.Thedeathsofmorethan20childrenwhohavebeenexposedtoHHPs havebeeninthenewslately,butpoisoningfromstreetpesticidesisnotanewoccurrence.7Theserecent NaledipoisoningshaveculminatedinaninvestigationthathasdeterminedthattheTerbufosgranules in the children’s stomachs killed them. Since then, the government has conflated these pesticide poisoningswithfood-borne/foodsafety-relatedissuesandhasscapegoatedspazashops.
SouthAfrica’stownshipshavelongexperiencedproblemswithmassivepestinfestationsandtheselling ofpesticidesonstreetsandininformalmarkets.Streetpesticidesarepoisonoussubstancesthatare legallyregisteredforagriculturalusesbutaredecantedillegallyintounlabelledbeveragebottlesor packetsfor home use. Or, they might be illegally packaged pesticides imported into SA and not registered for use. Typically, they are acquired from agricultural cooperatives, garden shops, and hardwarestores.
Thereisalonghistoryofresearchgoingbackto2008,concerningstreetpesticidesinseveraltownships inCapeTown.Severalresearchpapershavebeenpublishedandevidencepresentedtothegovernment thatchildrenaredyingfromtheingestionofpesticides,includingorganophosphates,carbamates,and pyrethroids.8ThispointstotherealitythataccesstoHHPsisamajorprobleminSA
In2023,expertspublishedapapershowingthatinoneCapeTownmortuary,outof50childrenwhose causeofdeathwassuspectedtobeduetopesticidesandforwhomtoxicologicaltestswereconducted, 29 had died from Terbufos poisoning. 9 Four others had died from the organophosphates methamidophosanddiazinon.Ofthesedeaths,42.6%werechildrenunderfiveyearsand40.7%were adolescents between 15 and 18. We also found that in SA, before the Naledi tragedy, access to comprehensiveandquicktoxicologicalresultsforpesticidedeathswaslimited.Pesticidemortuarydata arenotsoughtbythoseregulatingagriculturalpesticideswhenevaluatingevidenceindecision-making onpesticides.Governmentlaboratoriesarealsostretchedandcannotquicklytestthecauseofthese deaths.Thismeanswedonothaveatruepictureofhowmanydeathshavebeenlinkedtopesticides. Itcouldwellbeinthethousands.
We also draw attention to the long-term consequences of organophosphate poisoning for child development.Thereisincreasingevidencethatchildrensurvivingorganophosphatepoisoningsuffer significantadverseneurodevelopmentalimpactsthatwillbelifelong.
Severalfactorsareinvolvedinchilddeathsfromstreetpesticides.First,peoplelivingininformalareas mustcontendwithhighlevelsofpestinfestations–rats,bedbugs,flies,andcockroaches.Because commerciallysoldlegalpesticideshavebeenoverused,manypestsaredevelopingresistance10andso theseproductsarelesseffective.Thus,thereisamarketforkillingpestswithcheapandeffective products.Becauseoftheirhightoxicity,streetpesticidesareappealing,asthereismoneytobemade frominformalvendorswhosellthem.
7https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15652-5
8https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC121291;https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-023-15652-5;and https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/107735210799160264
9https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15652-5
10https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20231018-why-are-bed-bugs-so-difficult-to-deal-with
Parents think they are protecting their families and food sources from pests when buying street pesticides.Withnolabelorverbalwarnings,peopleapplythemnotknowinghowdangeroustheyare. Childrenareparticularlyvulnerable,astheyarenaturallycuriousandtooyoungtounderstandthe potentialdangersofexposure.Childrentouchalotofsurfaces,andoftenhavetheirhandsintheir mouths,andwiththeirsmallbodysize,asmallquantityofanHHPcancausesevereillnessordeath.
Wealsodrawattentiontothefactthatanotherorganophosphatepesticide,Chlorpyrifos,wasbanned fordomesticusein2010andforagriculturaluseon7thOctober2024.Chlorpyrifosiscategorisedasa moderatelyhazardousClassIpesticidebytheWHO11TerbufosisaClass1apesticide,aclassification of‘ExtremelyHazardous’,thehighestpossibleclassificationundertheWHOsystem.Itisirrationalfor theMinistertoallowamoretoxicorganophosphate,Terbufos,tocontinuetobeunbanned.
PestinfestationinSA’stownshipsisamanifestationofsocio-economicinequitiesandthefailureofthe statetoensurethateveryonehasaccesstosafedrinkingwater,sanitation,andessentialservices, includingsolidwasteremoval.Thesesystemicissuescannotberesolvedbyclampingdownonspaza shops and continuing to allow the hopelessly inadequate regulatory system concerning HHPs to continue.Wehavereachedapointofnoreturn:theseHHPs requireurgentattention,asindicated above.
3. Terbufos,HHPs,andUNSpecialRapporteuronToxicChemicals2023report
TerbufoshasbeenidentifiedasoneoftheHHPsthatshouldbebannedbytheUnitedNations(UN) SpecialRapporteur,12whostated:
Ialsolearnedthatpesticidesmeantforagriculturaluseareillegallysoldandusedtocombatrampant ratandcockroachpestinfestationsthatspreadintheabsenceofsanitationservicesininformal settlements.Iwasappalledtolearnofthemanychildrenwhowerepoisonedordiedfromeating, drinking,orhandlinghazardouspesticides.…13
The UN Rapporteur’s observations were contextualised by the overall concern regarding the disproportionateimpactoftoxinsandpollutiononhistoricallydisadvantagedcommunities,where,he highlighted,“tothisday,thelegacyofpervasiveair,water,andchemicalpollutiondisproportionately impactsmarginalisedandpoorcommunities.”Referringtothislegacyofapartheid,heemphasisedthat pervasiveenvironmentalracismstillexistsdespitesignificantlawreform:
Theterm“environmentalracism”describesinstitutionaliseddiscriminationbasedonraceorcolour.In pre-1994 SA, the distribution of environmental risks and harms disproportionately and often deliberately targeted low-income groups and along racial lines. Today, despite the efforts by Governmentinsettingupinstitutionsandlawstoaddressthislegacyofenvironmentalracism,pervasive air,water,andchemicalpollutionstillimposesaheavytoll,especiallyondisadvantagedcommunities. Overcomingitwillrequiresignificantadditionalefforts,includingstructural,legislative,economic,and environmentalchanges.
11https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/332193/9789240005662-eng.pdf?sequence=1
12TheUNRapporteur,DrMarcosOrellanainapressbriefingheldinPretoriaon11August2023aftera10-dayexploratoryvisit toSouthAfricawarnedtheSouthAfricangovernmentregardingtherampantuseofhighlytoxicpesticidesintheinformal sector.
13Orellana’sreportsaidregulatorygapsandenforcementshortcomingshadledtotheemergenceofstreetpesticides,which arewidelyavailableinmarkets,andusedininformalsettlementstocombatratandotherpestinfestations,aggravatedbythe absenceofgoodsanitationservices.
“Streetpesticidesareeitherlegallyregisteredforagriculturalusebutdecantedintounlabelledcontainersandusedillegallyfor domesticpestcontrolortheyareunregisteredproducts,probablyimportedillegally.”
Manychildrenhadbeenpoisonedordiedaftereating,drinkingorhandlinghazardousstreetpesticides.
In2022,therewere34poisoningcases,includingfivedeathsinGautengfromanorganophosphate,“probablyTerbufos”,the reportsaid.
Asoneexampleofthis,therapporteurreferredtotherampantuseofhighlytoxicpesticidesinthe informalsector.Terbufoswasspecificallymentioned.Henotedthat:
Despitethescientificevidenceoftheirharmsandthefactthattheycannotbesafelyused,manyHHPs arestilllegalandinuseinSA.In2022,therewere34reportedcasesofpoisoningandfivedeathsin Gautengcausedbyanorganophosphate,likelyTerbufos.Paraquatisanotherexampleofapesticide thatiswidelyavailableandresponsibleforserioushealthimpactsanddeaths.Thesetwopesticides, amongstmanyothers,arebannedintheEU,yettheyarestillproducedinEuropeancountriesforexport, particularlytodevelopingcountries.Thispracticereproduceslong-standingracistandcolonialpatterns ofexploitation.Equally,theSouthAfricanGovernmentmustprotectitspeopleandnotcontributeto reinforcingthesedoublestandards.
Hethenrecommendedthat:
Accordingly,SouthAfricashouldbantheimportofallhighlyhazardouspesticides,includingthose thathavebeenbannedforuseintheircountryoforigin,withoutdelay.Inthisregard,Iwishto applaudSouthAfrica’sdecisiontobanchlorpyrifos,ahazardousorganophosphatepesticide. However,theGovernmentshouldrequireimmediatesafedestructionofexistingstockpilesandnot allowforthefurtherharmandrisksofchlorpyrifosexposuresthatresultfromalengthy,years’long phase-outperiod
4. HHPslinkedtoreducedcognitivefunctionamongchildrenlivinginagriculturalareasinthe WesternCape
ApplicationratesofpesticidesinSAarethehighestinsub-SaharanAfrica.Over3,000differenttypesof pesticideproductformulationsareregistered,includingpossibleneurotoxicandendocrine-disrupting chemicalssuchasbifenthrin,cypermethrin,andmancozeb.Thedepartmentalsocontinuestopermit theuseofglyphosate,labelledaprobablecarcinogenbytheInternationalAgencyforResearchon Cancerin2015.
In the Western Cape, a wide range of highly hazardous pesticides have been detected in the environmentandinexposedpersons,whosemodesofuptakeandleveloftoxicityareverydifferent.A studyintheWesternCapein2017showedthatstonefruit,grapes,andwheatfarmsusedupto96 activeingredients(47fungicides,31insecticides,and18herbicides).
In2020,researchwaspublishedbyscientistsattheCentreforEnvironmentalandOccupationalHealth Research,fromtheSchoolofPublicHealthandFamilyMedicineattheUniversityofCapeTown(UCT) and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, in the Journal Environment International . 14 The study is also part of the South African-Swiss Bilateral SARChI Chair in Global EnvironmentalHealthofProfessorsAqielDalvieandMartinRöösli.
Thestudyreportstheresultsfromthebaselinesurveyofanongoingcohort investigationof1,001 schoolchildrenaged9to16fromsevenschoolsinthreeagriculturalareasintheWesternCape.The areasincludetheHexRiverValley(mainlytablegrapes),Grabouw(mainlystonefruits),andPiketberg (mainlycereals).Thestudyfoundthatimpairedcognitiveperformancefrompesticideexposureisan extremelyworryingindicatoroflong-termadversehealtheffectsamongchildrenexposedtopesticides.
AccordingtoProfessorDalvie,childrenareexpectedtobemorevulnerabletoenvironmentalexposures thanadultsastheirnervoussystemisstilldeveloping.Childrenarelikelytoengageinmorehand-tomouthactivities;theyhavealargerfoodintakeperunitbodyweight;theybreatheinrelativelylarger
14https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020321929
volumesofair;andaremorelikelytoplayinhazardouszones.Theneurodevelopmentaldisorderslinked toearlyexposurestopesticidesincludeautism,attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder,poorersocial behaviour,lowerintelligence,andworsebehaviouralregulation.
ArecentstudyofchildrensurvivingacuteorganophosphatepoisoningadmittedtoRedCrossHospital over10yearslong-termfoundtheywereatincreasedriskofimpairedneurodevelopmentbecauseof thepoisoning.15
5. Terbufos,HHPs,andpoisoningoffarmworkersdaily
TerbufosandHHPsareusedextensivelyinagricultureproductionacrossthecountry;forexample,on wine,maize,wheat,andcitrusfarms,andsugarcaneplantations,towhichfarmworkersandotherpeople workingandlivinginruralareasareexposed.Regardingsugarcaneplantations,paraquatisanHHP usedtoburnofftheleavesbeforeharvestinsomeareas.IthasbeenbannedintheEUsince2007.China alsobannedthedomesticuseofParaquatin2017,followedbyIndia,andThailandin2019,andBrazil, Chile,Malaysia,Peru,andTaiwanbetween2020and2022.Whilemenoftendothespraying,women farmworkersarealsovulnerabletopesticideexposure,whichoccursinmultipleways,includingwhen pesticidesareappliedwhiletheyareworkingwithoutproperprotectiveclothingandwhentheyare forcedtore-entervineyardssoonafterpesticideshavebeensprayed.
Farmbossesoftenignoreregulationsregardingtraining(mandatoryundertheOccupationalHealthand SafetyActanditsregulations),accesstoinformation,protectivegear,re-entryperiods,availabilityof washstations,andotherprecautionarymeasures;andyet,nooneismonitoringthem.Localclinicslack knowledgeofpesticidesinuseintheirvicinity,howtodiagnoseandtreatpoisoning,ortheirobligations toreportpesticidepoisoning.
Farm workers live under extremely vulnerable andprecarious working conditions, including being forcedtoworkwithpesticides,andhencehavenobargainingpower.Theyreceivethebarestminimum wage,withlittleaccesstohealthservicesandwhentheybecometooilltowork,theyaresummarily evictedfromfarmswheretheyhavebeenworkingandlivingalltheirlives.Theydonothavethepower torefuseworktheyknowtobedangerous.
Farmworkersandtheirchildren,farmdwellers,andpeoplelivingadjacenttofarmsarealsoexposedto thesetoxinsregularly.Sprayingseasonrecentlybegan(November)andthoselivingonandadjacentto farmsareexperiencingthefamiliarsymptomsofexposuretococktailsoftoxicpesticidesdriftinginthe air–asthma,sinus,streamingeyes,moodswings,headaches –andmanywillknowthelong-term impactsintheirbodiesinyearstocome.Researchconductedatapreschoollocatedonafarmnear CapeTownshowedthatendosulfanhaddriftedontotheschoolgroundseventhoughadjacentfarms werenotusingthepesticide,indicatingtheextentofnon-targetdriftwhenpesticidesareappliedin ruralareas.16
MinisterSteenhuisen,yourecentlydeclaredinthemediathatthesetoxinsarebeneficialtosociety.It seemsyouhavenotread yourpolicy,whichstatesclearlythat“pesticideshavepotentialtocause undesirable side effects,”that the “absence of effectivemanagement of pesticides toensurethat pesticidesareusedinwaysthatleadtotheminimisationofsignificantadverseeffectsonhumanhealth andtheenvironmentisofconcern”andthatapolicyisneeded“thataimstoeliminateallsignificant
15MureithiL.Long-termneurodevelopmentaleffectsofacuteorganophosphatepoisoningamongstSouthAfricanchildren.M MedDissertation.UniversityofCapeTown,February2024.
16DalvieMA,SosanB,CairncrossE,LondonL.Environmentalmonitoringofpesticideresiduesfromfarmsataneighbouring primaryandpre-schoolintheWesternCapeinSouthAfrica.ScienceoftheTotalEnvironment2014;466-467C:1078-1084.Doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.07.099
riskstohumanhealthandenvironmentpotentiallyfrompesticidesuseandalsoincorporatessound productionsystems.”
Thistoxicmodeoffoodproductionisnotinevitable.Werejectthewell-wornnarrativethatwecannot achievefoodsecurityifwedonotsprayourfoodwithnumerouscocktailsofpoisonsfromseedto productiontostorage.TheDepartmentknowsthisisthecasebecauseitissuedapolicy14yearsagoin whichitrecognisedtheneedtoreducepesticideusagewhilemaintainingfoodsecurity.
Howlongwillweallowthechemicalindustrytosellusthisbizarrenotion?Whatwillittakeforour governmenttotakeaseriouslookintoalternative,safemethodsoffoodproduction?Itseemsthatthe tragicdeathsofchildrenfromTerbufospoisoning havebeenanopportunitytodeflectblameand responsibility ratherthanimplement the very modest recommendations from your own Ministry’s policy,whichrecommended,14yearsago,thata“banorrestrictionsofthesehighlytoxicpesticides shouldgoalongwiththepromotionofcropprotectionalternativestotheusers.”
6. AdverseenvironmentalimpactsfromHHPspollutingWesternCaperiversallyearround
TwostudieshavefoundcertainpesticidesthatarebannedinEuropetobepresentintheBerg,Krom, andHexriversthroughouttheyear.Concentrationsofthesepesticidesoutsidecropsprayingandhigh rainfallmonthsindicatethechemicalsmayalsobeinthegroundwater.
Astudy17ledbyStellenboschUniversityDepartmentofEarthScienceslecturerReynoldChow,ofwater samplesfromthesethreeriversfromJuly2017toJune2018,andfromApriltoJuly2019,foundlevels offivepesticidesandherbicidesexceedingtheEuropeanEnvironmentalQualityStandards(EQS)atleast oncebetweenJune2017andJanuary2018.
Inapaper18onthesourceofthepesticidecontaminationinthesethreecatchments,ateamledby EmmaDaviesfoundtwoofthesefivechemicalcompounds–imidaclopridandchlorpyrifos–exceeded EQSlevelsbetweenFebruary2022andMarch2023,whentherewasnormalrainfall.Davies’studyalso foundtwoadditionalpesticides–terbuthylazineandspiroxamine–exceededEQSlevels.
Ofthe44pesticidesforwhichDaviestested,18weredetectedintheBergRiver,13intheKromRiver, andeightintheHexRiver.BothChowandDaviesnotedthatimidaclopridwasofparticularconcern,as itwasfoundacrossallthreecatchments,andwasdetectedoutsideperiodswhenpesticidesareapplied tocrops.Daviesnotesthat“thefrequentdetection”ofimidacloprid,apesticidethatattacksthenervous systemofinsects,inriversis“concerning”,asitisbannedintheEUdueto“mountingevidence”thatit harmspollinatinginsectssuchasbees.19
DaviesandherteamfoundpesticideconcentrationsintheHexRiveroccurredintheoff-seasonwhen sprayinggenerallydoesnottakeplace.Additionally,theyear-roundpresenceofimidaclopridand terbuthylazine indicates a source other than run-offafter agricultural application. Previous studies indicategroundwaterasapossiblesourceofpesticidepollution.
ThefourhighestpesticideconcentrationsintheHexRiveroccurredinMarch,August,andOctober. Marchisduringthegrapeharvestingseason(grapesconstitute73%ofcropproductionintheHexRiver Valley),andOctoberisduringthelowrainfallperiod.InGrabouw,consistentlylowlevelsofpesticides intheriverduringmonthswhenlittleornopesticideswereappliedtocropsalsoindicategroundwater as a source. The study notes that the Hex River Valley and Grabouw aquifers do not have an impermeablelayerofrockabovethem.Chemicalcompoundscanthereforeenterthroughleaching
17https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972206884X
18https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4797245
19https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/archive/imidacloprid.html
from the surface, and then feed into rivers. Davies and her team note that imidacloprid and terbuthylazinehavehighGroundwaterUbiquityScores–agreatertendencytoentergroundwater.The study also notesthatinFrance, terbuthylazinewas detected in groundwater17 years after being banned. Terbuthylazine is still used in SA. Ongoing contamination of groundwater can lead to compounds exceeding EQS. Based on the scientific evidence, we can look forward to long-term contaminationofourgroundwaterasaresult.
Policy
Regulatory failures
Hopelessly outdated legislation – 77 years old
InSouthAfrica,therearelegallyregisteredpesticidesforhome,garden,andagriculturaluses.Theseare regulatedunderanextremelyoldlaw,Act36of1947–alsoknownastheFertilizers,FarmFeeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act.20 Despite several attempts, Act 36 has not been scrappedandreplacedwithlegislationthattrulyprotectsallpopulations.
Abroadrangeofcivilsocietyorganisationsandacademicshavebeencallingforthephase-outof extremely hazardous and highly hazardous pesticides for the last two decades.21 This matter was explicitly referred to by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in its Pesticide ManagementPolicypublishedin2010,whichstatedtheDepartment’sintentiontophaseoutcertain pesticides:22
ThePolicytakesintocognisancethefactthatspecialattentionshouldbegiventopesticidesthatpose anunmanageablerisk,withanunderstandingthatsuchpesticidesshouldbeconsideredforphaseout, severerestriction,andbans.TheseincludethosewithEndocrineDisruptingProperties(EDP),Persistent OrganicPollutants(POPs),carcinogenicandimmunotoxicpotential,formulationsclassifiedbyWHOas ExtremelyHazardous(class1a)andHighlyHazardous(class1b),aswellaspesticidesassociatedwith frequentandseverepoisoningincidents
Whoknowshowmanylivesmayhavebeensavedhadthepolicybeenimplemented14yearsago! However,thetimeforphase-outofthe35HHPshaslongsincepassed,necessitatingimmediatebans asoutlinedabove.
Noneofthesemeasureshavebeenimplementedeventhoughthedepartmentknowsthelawisnotfit forpurposeanylonger.
No protection for children
Thereisnospecificlegislationaimedatprotectingchildrenfrompesticideexposure.
Ineffective enforcement
Act 36 enforcement officers are scarce and so the police have to step in to enforce the law. Environmentalhealthpractitionersdoagoodjobfollowinguponthecasesthatarereported,butthey lackthecapacityandresourcesanddonothavethepowerstoenforcelegislationunderDALRDD,now
20https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201505/act-36-1947.pdf
21Seeforexample:https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/pesticides_usage_health_consequencesfor_women_0.pdf; https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-08-30-women-farmworkers-demand-an-end-to-use-of-harmfulpesticides/;https://www.news24.com/news24/community-newspaper/paarlpost/stop-the-double-standards-20240904
22Notice1120Of2010No.3389937DepartmentOfAgriculture,ForestryAndFisheriesFertilizers,FarmFeeds,Agricultural RemediesAndStockRemediesAct,1947(ActNo.36F1947)AdoptionOfPesticideManagementPolicyForSouthAfrica,at page4seehttps://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/338991120.pdf
thedepartmentofAgriculture.Protectinghealthfrompesticidescoverslegislationfromagriculture, health,labour,andtheenvironment,creatingmanylegislativegaps.23
No public database
TofindoutwhichpesticidesareregisteredorrestrictedinSA,amemberofthepublichastopayto access a databaserunby thepesticideindustry, underthe auspices of CropLife.24Previously, the DepartmentofAgriculturehousedthisdatabase,butitnolongermaintainsit.Thisself-regulationby theindustryisunlawfulasitismanifestlyacaseofconflictofinterest. Asapublicbody,theregulator hasabdicateditsstatutoryresponsibilities
Tosavechildren’slives,accesstothesepesticidesneedstobeeliminated.Industryneedstofundthe workofthegovernmentthroughhighertaxesandfees.Allcurrently registeredHHPsoughttobe bannedwithnophase-outperiods.Othercountrieshaveshownthateliminatinghighlyhazardous pesticidessavesliveswithoutjeopardisingagriculturalproduction.25
It is instructive to note that in 2021, the Department of Environment withdrew its regulations to implementSA’sobligationsundertheRotterdamConvention,arguingthatmoretimeforadjustment wasneeded–17yearsafterSAratifiedtheConvention.Furthertothis,Terbufoswasoneoftheagents importedbyUPLatitsCornubiastorethatwentupinflamesin2021andwouldhavebeennotifiable undertheseregulations.
Further,theRegistrarpromisedinApril2022,tophaseout116HHPsbyJune2024(Terbufosisoneof these).26Ultimately,only28wereidentifiedforphasingout,butnotTerbufos,andtoaddinsulttoinjury, regulationswereevenpassedtoallowtheindustrytoapplyforexemptionstocontinuetousethese chemicalsundercertaincircumstances.
Therehasbeenanabjectfailureonthepartofthestatetofulfilltheconstitutionaldutytoexercise powersinamannerthatpromotestherightscontainedintheConstitution,includingtherighttolife andtherighttoenvironment,aswellasadutytofosterconductthatprotectsthoserights.
ConflictofInterest
Themulti-billion-dollarindustrythatproducesthesehighlyhazardouschemicalshasaholdoverthe SouthAfricangovernment,asalsonotedbytheUNSpecialRapporteurinhisJuly2024report.This industry,spearheadedbyCropLife,hashinderedeveryattempttobanHHPsandregulatepesticidesin general.Governmentiscomplicit,astheyhaveenabledtheself-regulationbyindustrytocontinueand consistentlymakedecisionsinfavourofindustryoverpeopleandenvironmentalhealthandsafety Industry'saudacityandimpunitymuststop.Itmuststopnow.
Banning of Terbufos and HHPs is in line with the Minister’s Constitutional duty to protect the right to life, health, and the environment.
23https://health.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/2019.4.16_street_pesticide_policy_brief.pdf
24https://www.agri-intel.com/
25https://www.nature.com/articles/nplants20178
26 https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/images/Branches/AgricProducHealthFoodSafety/InspQuarantineServ/AgricInputsControl/GazetteNoti ces/Phase%20Out%20of%20Active%20Ingredients%20and%20Formulations%20that%20meet%20the%20criteria%20of%20carci nogesity.-1.pdf
Therighttotheenvironmentguaranteesthatreasonablemeasureswillprotecttheenvironment.27The banningofTerbufosandHHPsisthemostreasonableandonlymeasurethatwillstemtheunlawful distributionofthesesubstancesandtheirexposuretofarmworkersanddwellers,children,andthe public.
ItissubmittedthattheMinister,inthecurrentcircumstances,hasaconstitutionalobligationtoissuea banonotherHPPswithinafixedsixmonths,forimplementationinthepublicinterestandtoprotect therighttolifeandrighttoanenvironmentofunknownnumbersofpersonswhomaybeexposedto and possibly killed by this chemical if such bans are not implemented. We deal with our legal submissionsbelow.
Constitutional duties
Everyonehastherighttolife,andtoanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultotheirhealthandwell-being.28 TheStatehasaconstitutionaldutytofostertheserights.29Legislationmustbeinterpretedtopromote therightscontainedintheConstitution’sBillofRights.30Section24(b)oftheConstitutionmandatesthe statetotakereasonablemeasurestoachievetheprotectionofpublichealthandtheenvironment.It providesthat:
Everyone has the right tohave the environment protected, for the benefit of present andfuture generations,throughreasonablelegislativeandothermeasuresthatpreventpollutionandecological degradation[and]promoteconservation.
UndertheNationalEnvironmentalManagementAct107of1997,whichisumbrellalegislationthat appliestoallactionsofthestatethatmaysignificantlyimpacttheenvironment,thereisadutytoadopt aprecautionaryapproach.
Act 36 of 1947
TheActinsection7bismakesprovisionfortheMinistertobanpesticides.Intermsofthissection:
(1)TheMinistermaybynoticeintheGazette-
(a)prohibittheacquisition,disposal,sale,oruseoffertilizers,farmfeeds,agriculturalremediesstock remedies;or
(b)prohibitsuchacquisition,disposal,sale,oruse,exceptbysuchconditionsasmaybespecifiedinthe noticeorexceptundertheauthorityofandbysuchconditionsasmaybespecifiedinapermitissued bytheRegistrar,andmayinlikemannerrepealoramendanysuchnotice.
27Constitutionsection24states:Everyonehastherighttohavetheenvironmentprotected,forthebenefitofpresentand futuregenerations,throughreasonablelegislativeandothermeasuresthatpreventpollutionandecologicaldegradation[and] promoteconservation.
28Section24Environment Everyonehastheright(a)toanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultotheirhealthorwell-being;and(b)tohavetheenvironmentprotected,forthe benefitofpresentandfuturegenerations,throughreasonablelegislativeandothermeasuresthat-(i)preventpollutionand ecologicaldegradation;(ii)promoteconservation;and(iii)secureecologicallysustainabledevelopmentanduseofnatural resourceswhilepromotingjustifiableeconomicandsocialdevelopment.
29Section7(2)oftheConstitutionoftheRepublicofSouthAfrica,1996.
30TheConstitutionsection39(2).TheConstitutionalCourthasrepeatedlyemphasisedthatconstitutionalrightsmustbe generouslyinterpretedseeSvZumaandOthers1995(2)SA642(CC).Seeespeciallypara14wheretheConstitutionalCourt approvedthefollowingpassagefromajudgmentofLordWilberforceinMinisterofHomeAffairs(BermudavFisher[1980]AC 319(PC328-9:‘[Asupremeconstitutionrequires]agenerousinterpretation…suitabletogivetoindividualsthefullmeasureof thefundamentalrightsandfreedomsreferredto….’SeealsoSvMhlungu1995(3)SA391(CC).
OneofthefactorsthattheRegistrarmusttakeintoconsiderationwhendecidingwhethertogranta registrationforanagriculturalremedyisthatitshouldnotbecontrarytothepublicinterestthatitbe registered.ItfollowsthattheMinistermaybanapesticideinthepublicinterest.31
Regulations under Act 36 of 1947
In 2023, the then Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) promulgatedRegulationsRelatingtoAgriculturalRemediespromulgatedunderAct36of194732that makeprovisionforthephase-outofalimitedgroupofpesticidesdefinedas“substancesofconcern.” These“substancesofconcern”arelimited,withoutgoodreason,tochemicalsdefinedbythecriteriaof carcinogenicity,mutagenicity,orreproductivetoxicityincategories1Aor1BoftheGloballyHarmonized SystemofClassificationandLabellingofChemicals(GHS),33aswellassubstanceslistedundercertain provisionsoftheStockholmConvention(persistentorganicpollutants)andMontrealProtocol(ozonedepletingsubstances)34
A critical flaw isthatthesesubstances donotinclude the WHO’s RecommendedClassification of Pesticidesby Hazard;classes1a and1b areforpesticidesthat arehighly hazardous orextremely hazardous,respectively,anddo,thereforenotconstituteactiononthepartofthegovernmentgive effecttotheprotectionofourconstitutionalrights.
These provisions are completely inadequate to address the unmanageable risk posed by certain extremely hazardous and highly hazardous pesticides. For example, agricultural remedies recommendedbytheWHOforclassificationas1a(extremelyhazardous)and1b(highlyhazardous)35 arenotincludedinthedefinitionof“substancesofconcern”36and,therefore,willnotbephasedoutat theendoftheirthree-yearperiodsofregistration.37
31Act37section3(2)(a)
32PromulgatedinGN3812of25thAugust2023inGG49189https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202308/49189gon3812.pdf
33Thedistinctionbetweencategories1Aand1Bisthatcategory1Areferstosubstancesknowntohavecarcinogenicor mutagenicpotential,oraretoxictoreproduction,basedlargelyonevidencefromhumans.Category1B,ontheotherhand, involvessubstanceswheretheharmfuleffectsarepresumed,butbasedprimarilyonanimalstudies
34Thedefinitionof“substancesofconcern”inthe2023regulationsand2024draftregulationsis “anysubstancewhichhasaninherentcapacitytocauseanadverseeffectonhumans,animalsortheenvironmentandis presentorisproducedinanagriculturalremedyinsufficientconcentrationtopresentrisksofsuchaneffect. Suchsubstances shallcomplywiththecriteriasetoutinAnnexureA.
AnnexureAtotheregulationsidentifiessubstancesofconcernasfollows.Thisdefinitionisrepeatedinthe2024draftamended regulations:
2.SubstanceofConcern
AgriculturalremedyactiveIngredientsandtheirformulationsfulfilsthesubstanceofconcerncriteriawhensuchagricultural remedyhaveoneormoreofthecharacteristics–
(i)Criterion1:agriculturalremedyactiveIngredientsandtheirformulationsthatmeetthecriteriaofcarcinogenicityCategories 1AorIBoftheGHSor;
(ii)Criterion2:agriculturalremedyactiveIngredientsandtheirformulationsthatmeetthecriteriaofmutagenicityCategories1A orIBoftheGHSor;
(lii)Criterion3:agriculturalremedyactiveingredientsandtheirformulationsthatmeetthecriteriaofreproductivetoxicity Categories1Aor1BoftheGHSor;
(iv)Criterion4:agriculturalremedyactiveingredientslistedbytheStockholmConventionInitsAnnexesAandB,andthose meetingallthecriteriainparagraph1ofAnnexDoftheConventionexceptfordlchlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT)used formalariavectorcontrolbytheDepartmentofHealth;and
(v)Criterion5:agriculturalremedyactiveingredientslistedundertheMontrealProtocol
35https://www.fao.org/pesticide-registration-toolkit/special-topics/highly-hazardous-pesticides-hhp/identification-ofhhps/hhp-criteria-
1/en/#:~:text=Pesticide%20formulations%20that%20meet%20the,dermal%20toxicity%20of%20the%20pesticide.
36Thedefinitionof“substancesofconcern”inthe2023regulationsand2024draftregulationsis“anysubstancewhichhasan inherentcapacitytocauseanadverseeffectonhumans,animalsortheenvironmentandispresentorisproducedinan agriculturalremedyinsufficientconcentrationtopresentrisksofsuchaneffect.Suchsubstancesshallcomplywiththecriteria setoutinAnnexureA.AnnexureAidentifiessubstancesofconcern,aslistedinfootnote31.
372023Regulationsregulation10(3)(e);2024DraftRegulation10(3)(e).
Instead, they are relegated to a second category of hazardous agricultural remedies defined as “restrictedagriculturalremedies”38thatarenottargetedbytheregulationsforphase-out.Theymaybe registered subject torestricted use, which merely means that additional information needs tobe includedontheirlabels,andtherearelimitationsonwhomayusethem.39
Asaresultofthisdeficientandunjustifiableregulatoryclassification,pesticidesidentifiedasextremely hazardousandhighlyhazardousbytheWHOrecommendedclassificationsystem,40suchasTerbufos, arenotaimedtobephasedout–onlyrestricted–despiteapolicyundertakingtodosothathasbeen inexistenceforalmost15years.Thefailuretoimplementthispolicyhasresultedinuntoldpreventable deathsandsuffering,particularlyofchildren.41
Anothershortcomingoftheseregulationsisthatitprovidesthat:Apersonshallnotsupplyarestricted agriculturalremedy,orpermitarestrictedagriculturalremedytobesupplied,toapersonwhoisnot authorisedtousetheagriculturalremedyundertheseregulations.”ButIhavenotbeenabletofind whatthedefinitionisof‘authorised’.
AfurtherloopholeintheAug2023regulationsisthatitprovidesthat: “Apersonshallnotsupplyarestrictedagriculturalremedy,orpermitarestrictedagriculturalremedy to be supplied, to a person who is not authorised to use the agricultural remedy under these regulations.”
It’snotcleartousthatthisappliestoanagriculturalco-op.Theco-opisnota‘user’butsellsittousers. So,itseemsthecompanycanselltotheco-opirrespective,butit’stheco-op’sproblemtomakesure it does not sell to anyone unauthorised. We fail to see how this amounts to cradle-to-grave responsibility?
Itappearsthat,forexample,afarmownerorbosscangointoaco-opandpurchasethesesubstances withoutanytrainingorcertificateandaskfarmworkerstousethem.
Labelsarerequiredtobemoredetailedregardingsafetyinformationandonlyregisteredusersmay purchasethem.Thestatedoesnot,however,regulatethesechemicalsfurtherbyremovingthemfrom society,asenvisagedbyitsPesticideManagementPolicyandtheWHOrecommendations.
Unsurprisingly,thesechemicalshaveeasilyfoundthemselvesinthepublicdomainandinfoodthatis consumedinunregulatedenvironments,creatingamajorhealthcrisis.Extremelyhazardousagricultural remediesaresimplynotbeingregulatedinaconstitutionallycompliantmanner.
Toprotectthepublic,the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries musttakestepstoprevent TerbufosandHPPsfrombeingsubstitutedbyanequallytoxicagriculturalremedyoncetheyarebanned.
38"[R]estrictedagriculturalremedy"meansanagriculturalremedywhichtheRegistrar,outofconcernforitshumanhealthor environmentalrisks,hassetoutadditionalinformationtobeshownonthelabelconcerningessentialconditionsinrespectof thedisplay,distributionorlimitationsonuseof,orqualificationsofpersonswhomayusetheagriculturalremedy,andsuch remedyshallcomplywiththecriteriaassetoutinannexureA
392023RegulationsRegardingAgriculturalRemedies,regulation20
40https://www.fao.org/pesticide-registration-toolkit/special-topics/highly-hazardous-pesticides-hhp/identification-ofhhps/hhp-criteria-
1/en/#:~:text=Pesticide%20formulations%20that%20meet%20the,dermal%20toxicity%20of%20the%20pesticide.
41ChildandadolescentmortalityassociatedwithpesticidetoxicityinCapeTown,SouthAfrica,2010–2019:aretrospectivecase review-BronwenDavies,MarieBelleKathrinaMendozaHlela&Hanna-AndreaRother: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15652-5#auth-Hanna_Andrea-Rother-Aff3
Thefreeavailability,aswellasthepresenceofTerbufosinfoods,demonstratesthattheStateisnotable toconfineHHPstoregisteredusers.Therehavebeennoprosecutionsdespiteover15yearsofdire warningsofthethreatposedbythischemicaltovulnerableanddisadvantagedcommunitiesasanHHP.
Ithasthepotentialtobefatalifswallowed,breathedin,orontheskin.Itsapprovalasanagricultural chemicalhasresultedinitbecomingathreattolifeandtocontinuetoallowittobeusedinagriculture wouldbeaviolationoftheconstitutionalrighttolife.
Conclusion
ThePresidenthasstatedthatthefirstinterventionistogethazardouspesticidesoffthestreet.Itis submittedthatthiswillnotbepossiblewithoutthebanningofTerbufosandallotherHHPs,asthe banningofasinglechemicalwilljustresultinitbeingreplacedbyanotherequallytoxicchemicalifsuch islegallyavailableforsaleinSA.
Accordingly,wecallontheMinistertoindicatehiswillingnesstoundertakethestepssetoutinthis letterwithin21daysofthedateofthisletter,failingwhichwereserveourrightstobringlegalactionto compeltheMinistertotakethesesteps.Wetrustthiswillnotbenecessary.
Welookforwardtoyourresponse.
Yoursfaithfully,
Mariam Mayet ExecutiveDirector,ACB
Onbehalfofthecoalitionoffarmworkersandcivilsocietyorganisations,andacademics,including theACB,WFP,CSAAWU,Groundwork,FriendsoftheEarthSA,Khanyise/KoegaWorkersForum;TCOE; ProfessorLeslieLondon,ProfessorAndreaRother,andDrCindyStephens.
Annex
Individuals supporting:
ProfessorLeslieLondonisHeadoftheDivisionofPublicHealthMedicineintheSchoolofPublic HealthandFamilyMedicine,UniversityofCapeTown(UCT),andDirectorofitsHealthandHuman RightsProgramme.Hisresearchareasincludeenvironmentalandoccupationalhealth,risksfrom alcohol,andtherelationshipbetweenpublichealthandhumanrights,particularlyinhealthpolicy.
ProfessorAndreaRotheristheHeadoftheEnvironmentalHealthDivisionandProfessorintheSchool ofPublicHealthandFamilyMedicineatUCT.SheisalsodeputydirectoroftheCentrefor EnvironmentalandOccupationalHealthResearch(CEOHR)intheUniversity.
Asanenvironmentalsociologistandenvironmental/publichealthprofessional,herexpertiseliesinthe areasofchemical/pesticideriskmanagement,riskcommunication,healthliteracy,exposure assessment,interventiondevelopmentandpolicyanalysis.Andreaisextensivelyinvolvedinnational andinternationalpolicydevelopmentaroundreducingchemicalandpesticidehealthand environmentalhealthrisks,anareashehasbeenworkinginforover25years.Sheledthe developmentoftheFAOguidancedocumentonHighlyHazardousPesticideswithFAOstaff.
DrCindyStephenisaMedicalOfficerandthedirectorofthePoisonsInformationCentreattheRed CrossWarMemorialChildren’sHospitalinCapeTown.Priorto2015,Cindyworkedformanyyearsin ChildHealthwithafocusondevelopingsystemsandtoolstoimprovethequalityofcarereceivedby childrenintheSouthAfricanhealthsystem.DuringheryearsinPietermaritzburg,KwaZulu-Natal, Cindybecameafoundermemberandco-developeroftheChildHealthcareProblemIdentification Programme(ChildPIP),ShecontinuestoserveontheChildPIPExecutiveCommitteeandTechnical TaskTeam.CindyisalsoaclinicalstaffmemberoftheDepartmentofPaediatricsandChildHealthat theUniversityofCapeTown,andcontributestothedevelopmentandmaintenanceofAfriTox,a uniquelySouthAfricanpoisonsinformationdatabasethatprovidesmedicalpractitionerswith comprehensiveinformationonmanagingpoisoninginbothadultsandchildren,aswellasthe24/7 PoisonsInformationHelpline,availabletothepublicandmedicalpersonnel.
Organisations supporting the letter
AfricanCentreforBiodiversity(ACB)
TheACBisresearchandadvocacyorganisationworkingtowardsfoodsovereigntyandagroecologyin Africa,withafocusonbiosafety,seedsystemsandagriculturalbiodiversity.TheACBiscommittedto dismantlinginequalitiesandresistingcorporate-industrialexpansioninAfrica’sfoodandagriculture systems.
Initially,itsfocuswasexclusivelyongeneticmodificationandbiosafety,thustheorganisationwas establishedin2003astheAfricanCentreforBiosafety.Overtheyears,thisexpandedintoworkingon theinterconnectedissuesaffectingfoodsovereigntyandbiodiversityinAfrica,includingseedlaws, farmerseedsystems,agriculturalbiodiversity,agroecologyandcorporateexpansioninagriculture.The ACB’scurrentgeographicalfocusismostlySouthern,WestandEastAfrica,withextensivecontinental andglobalnetworks.
TheACBstrivesforasociallyjust,democratic,andculturalandbiologicaldiverselandscapesandfood systemsinAfrica,basedontheinterconnectedandharmoniousco-creationbetweenpeopleandnature.
Commercial,Stevedoring,Agricultural,andAlliesWorkersUnion(CSAAWU)
CSAAWUisatradeunionestablishedin2006toaddresstheappallingworkingandlivingconditions facedbyfarmworkers,primarilyinthewinelandsoftheWesternCape.CSAAWUisrecognizedasone ofthemostvibrant,caringunionsintheagriculturesector.Ithasgainedtherespectoftradeunion federation,theSouthAfricanFederationofTradeUnions(SAFTU),andisexpandingfromtheWestern CapeProvincetotheNorthernCapeProvinceandotherprovincesinSouthAfrica.
Groundwork,FriendsoftheEarthSouthAfrica
GroundWorkisanon-profitenvironmentaljusticeserviceanddevelopmentalorganizationworking primarilyinSouthernAfricaintheareasofClimate&EnergyJustice,Coal,EnvironmentalHealth, GlobalGreenandHealthyHospitals,andWaste.
TheorganisationseekstoimprovethequalityoflifeofvulnerablepeopleinSouthAfrica,and increasinglyinSouthernAfrica,throughassistingcivilsocietytohaveagreaterimpacton environmentalgovernance.GroundWorkplacesparticularemphasisonassistingvulnerableand previouslydisadvantagedpeoplewhoaremostaffectedbyenvironmentalinjustices.
GroundWorkisguidedbytheSection24oftheSAConstitutionwhichprovidesthateveryonehasthe right:
• (a)toanenvironmentthatisnotharmfultotheirhealthorwell-being;and
• (b)tohavetheenvironmentprotected,forthebenefitofpresentandfuturegenerations, throughreasonablelegislativeandothermeasuresthat–
• (i)preventpollutionandecologicaldegradation;
• (ii)promoteconservation;and
• (iii)secureecologicallysustainabledevelopmentanduseofnaturalresources whilepromotingjustifiableeconomicandsocialdevelopment.
KhanyisaEducationandDevelopmentTrust(Khanyisa)/KougaWorkersForum
KhanyisaisalandrightsNGOwhoseoperationislocatedinGqeberhaintheEasternCape,SouthAfrica. Khanyisasupportsthemobilisationandstrugglesofsmall-scalefarmersandfarmworkers/dwellers associationsinperi-urbanareas,andcommercialfarmsintheNelsonMandelaMetro[Kariega,]Sundays RiverValley,Kouga,andNdlambe[Alexandria]municipalregions.
TrustforCommunityOutreachandEducation(TCOE)
TCOEisanationalcollectiveofsixNGOsestablishedin1983.TCOEenvisagesasocietywheretherural poor,bothmenandwomen,haveaccessandrightstoland,marine,andothernaturalresourcesfor foodsecurityandthecreationofsustainablelivelihoods.Thissocietyisresponsivetotheneedsofthe poorandthatrecognisesandvaluesthepotentialofallitscitizens.
TCOEcommitsitselftobuildingamass-basednationalformationofpoorruralpeople’sorganisations withstrong,democratic,andaccountableleadershipthatcanorganise,mobilise,andcoordinatethe strugglesofallsectorsoftheruralandcoastalpoor,includingwomen,small-scalefarmers,commodity groups,fishers,farmerworkers,andyouth,forcontrolandownershipofnaturalresources.
Suchaformationactivelyforgeslinkswithurbanandruralorganisationsandinstitutionsatlocal, national,regionalandinternationallevelsthatadvocateforbasicservices,economicrights,socialand environmentaljustice,andanendtopoverty.
WomenonFarmsProject(WFP)
WFPisafeministorganisationoperatingintheNorthernandWesternCapethatworkswithwomen wholiveandworkoncommercialfarms.WFPseekstoempowerfarmwomenprimarilythroughrightsbasedcapacitybuildingaswellassupportfortheirorganisationincommunity-basedstructures.WFP enablesfarmwomentoknowandclaimtheirrights.RecentcampaignshavetargetedGenderBased Violence(GBV),accesstopropersanitationfacilitiesonthefarms,aswellasfeminist-centredland redistribution.
WFPstrivestostrengthenthecapacityofwomenwholiveandworkonfarmstoclaimtheirrightsand fulfilltheirneeds.Itdoesthisthroughsocio-economicrights-basedandgendereducation,advocacy andlobbying,casework,andsupportforthebuildingoflocalstructuresoffarmwomen.WFPpromotes self-reliance,accountabilityandsustainabilityoforganisationssothatwomenorganisethemselves, speakforthemselves,andmobiliseresourcestosupporttheirneedsanddreams.Suchself-organisation counteractsthemarginalisation,abuse, and vulnerability experiencedby womeninthe workplace, home, and farming community, and ensurestheirleading role in accessing services and securing employment,land,andhousing.